Bill Preininger
Farmington Hills, Michigan

Current Bike(s)
2003 Kawasaki ZX12R
2003 Suzuki SV1000N

Years Riding
8 years

How did you hear about HSTA?
I was invited to an HSTA breakfast meeting by a work colleague and riding companion.  It was about 2 years of attending before I realized this club was special & ‘resistance was futile’.

What was your first bike?
My first bike was 1984 Honda V4 500cc Magnum. I still can’t believe my wife gave in to our no- motorcycle-marriage-pact.  Better late than never!

Favorite Bike?
I was smitten by a 1999 ZX11. This bike has beautiful lines, an incredible engine, was comfortable and ruled the sports bike world of the 90’s.

Who influenced you to become an HSTA member?
No question fellow HSTA member Steve Ickes. He is very safety minded (MSF Instructor), a natural mechanic & lives to ride. Steve will always be my riding mentor.

Favorite Place to Ride?
The HSTA Mail Pouch Fly By in Marietta, Ohio. I attended Marietta College my freshman year, & the MPFB is my chance to revisit & fully appreciate the wonderful road variety.

Most Memorable Motorcycle Adventure?
In 2002 I rented a new Honda VFR Interceptor in Las Vegas. It was only a day trip, but I made 3 states, winding mountain roads, full throttle prairie straights & Hoover Dam which had a military road block due to 9/11. All was topped off by a cruise down the strip with a real bad chopper. We jumped from light to light exchanging mutual respects for his noise & my speed. 

Best Advice
Prepare for an aggressive turn by choosing your line, push on the same turn grip (countersteer), look through the turn & don’t fight the bike. Sounds easy enough, but there’s always so much more to learn.

What turns you on & what do you like about riding?
The exposed mechanicals, leading edge engineering & white knuckle performance. The sensory overload of freedom, fun & therapy that prevails over the inherent risks. Defying and overcoming these risks has it’s own reward.

What do you get out of HSTA?
Unconditional companionship. I have personally experienced the unselfish & immediate embrace of my HSTA companions in times of desperation.

Hobbies outside of HSTA?
I’ve run since high school, I’m fairly active in my Christian faith and I referee high school basketball. But nothing beats wrenching on my bikes with a cold beer & cigar in hand.

The question you were never asked?
Why are you a Kawasaki loyalist? It happened in college. I was driving through an old neighborhood & saw a childhood friend pushing a Kawasaki Mach III into his parent’s garage. How dare he have that bike when I can’t even afford gas! That was my epiphany.  My midlife was filled with schemes of initiation to the Ninja Spirit – those special attributes of harder edge & overwhelming performance. The ZX12R sits in my garage, but I am so unworthy.  Let the good times roll…